Houses of Parliament

In the ten years since it was established, the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on Microfinance (APPG)* has been working to advance the understanding of microfinance amongst UK parliamentarians and to promote good practice in the UK’s support for microfinance around the world. The APPG provides a forum for its membership (made up of MPs and Peers) to learn about microfinance and to engage with representatives of microfinance institutions, investors, academics and other stakeholders in the global microfinance sector. The APPG is currently looking into the structures employed in developing countries to regulate and supervise microfinance, and they would like to hear the views of individuals and organisations that have an interest in this subject.

Last year the APPG undertook a 7-month Inquiry looking at microfinance, including its efficacy in reducing poverty and how UK-supported microfinance in developing countries could be improved in order to increase its impact. The final Inquiry report (available HERE) contained numerous recommendations for best practice, as well as highlighting areas needing further consideration. One of the areas highlighted for further investigation was the ways in which microfinance in developing countries is regulated and supervised, and the APPG is currently soliciting written evidence on this topic.

If you would like to contribute your views or those of your organisation during this consultation, please click HERE to download the Call for Evidence document, which contains some background information and a questionnaire. The deadline for submitting written evidence is the 27th of August. All submissions received before this date will be considered and will inform a briefing for the APPG members, as well as an event in parliament on microfinance regulation later this year.

*RESULTS UK provides the Secretariat for the APPG, offering administrative support and assisting the APPG’s membership with their work on microfinance.